Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition all original example of a German WWII M35 helmet shell, as issued to the Heer (Army), which has lived a long and interesting life! It was originally finished early war smooth paint, and most likely had "Double Decals" installed at one point, however during the war it was sent back to arsenal and refurbished. It had the original decals removed and was repainted with wartime textured panzergrau (armor gray), and had a single Heer Army Silver Eagle decal installed on the left side. It then saw additional service, resulting in over 90% of the decal being removed, with just enough still present to recognize it as a Heer decal

We did notice one thing of interest and that is in areas where the textured paint is worn down, the paint we see does not appear to be early war smooth Apfel-grün (apple green), but instead smooth Fliegerblau (Flyer's Blue) paint, as used on Luftwaffe Air Force helmets. It is very possible that this was originally a Luftwaffe helmet, which for some reason was repainted during the war as a Heer helmet. Definitely some great potential for future research!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped IN352 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size, Q64 indicating that it was manufactured by F.W. Quist G.m.b.H. in the German city of Esslingen. Size 64 is a nice smaller size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1/8. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

All three of the original liner split pins are present, with most of the original paint worn away on all three. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of its fingers fully intact, complete with the top securing tie. The leather has a lovely chestnut brown color, and is still supple, with no tearing, just some splitting around the bottom edge.

All three of the original liner split pins are present, though they are nickel plated, so most of the paint has worn away, and they show a lovely patina on the plating. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of its fingers fully intact, with the top securing tie absent. The leather has a lovely chestnut brown color, and is still supple, with no tearing, just some flaking around the bottom edge. The leather is relatively thick, so it is most likely pig skin and not the earlier goat / sheep skin. The left exterior of the galvanized steel liner band is faintly marked 64 n. A. / 57, indicating that it is a size 57 liner for a size 64 shell. The right side has the partial maker information stamped, however it is enough we can determine what the complete marking should read:0

Metall-Lederverarbeitung W.Z.
1943
Bln.- Ch'burg 5

This indicates production by the metal and leather working company Werner Zahn, based in Berlin - Charlottenburg, in the year 1943, which fits right into the immediate pre-war period. There is still an original late war chinstrap installed, with all 13 size adjustment holes present, however it did tear through at one point, and staples were used to attach it back together.

Overall a fantastic 100% genuine former Single Decal M35 Heer Army helmet with loads of history and a complete liner with an original repaired chinstrap! This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time!

The first "modern" steel helmets were introduced by the French army in early 1915 and were shortly followed by the British army later that year. With plans on the drawing board, experimental helmets in the field, ("Gaede" helmet), and some captured French and British helmets the German army began tests for their own steel helmet at the Kummersdorf Proving Grounds in November, and in the field in December 1915. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production began at Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, (Iron and Foundry Works), in the spring of 1916.

These first modern M16 helmets evolved into the M18 helmets by the end of WWI. The M16 and M18 helmets remained in usage through-out the Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era and on into the early years of the Third Reich until the development of the smaller, lighter M35 style helmet in June 1935.

The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportsverband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian, forerunner of the Luftwaffe on August 18TH 1934, and adopted for wear by the Luftwaffe on March 1ST 1935 along with the national tri-color shield for wear on the helmet.

The first pattern national eagle was utilized until a modified second pattern eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. Regulations of June 12TH 1940 discontinued the use of the national tri-color decal and further regulations of August 28TH 1943 abolished the national eagle decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to.